The 20 Most Underrated Bass Guitarists

Paste Magazine generates a list of the day, and their entry for October 12 is the 20 Most Underrated Bass Guitarists. Writer John Barrett start with a useful point:

First things first: Nearly all bass players are, by definition, underrated and overlooked, since the focal point is usually the lead singer or the guitarist. But even in discussions of great bass guitarists, a select few names get thrown around all the time: Victor Wooten, Flea, Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, etc.. So this week we thought we’d pay tribute to a few of the less-celebrated bass guitarists with fantastic chops from the past several decades of popular music.

While Paste's list compilers have a tendency to run to the willfully obscure, this list contains a thoughtful balance of lesser-known bands, lesser-acknowledged bassists from well-known bands and well-known singers whose bass skills are often overlooked.

The 20 Most Underrated Bass Guitarists

Paste's focus is on popular music, but to explore the full range of genres for bass, take a look at the library's bass research guide. Or give a listen to a Sound Opinions interview with Bootsy Collins, who qualifies as one of those select few names that gets thrown around all the time.